Gas flow regulator



June 6, 1939. A.' E URS 2,161,171

GAS FLOW REGULATOR Filed Feb.`l'7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

June 6, 1939. A. E. JURS GAS FLow REGULATOR 2 Sheets-.Sheet 2 Filed Feb.1'7, 1.936

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 6, 1939 PATENT OFFICE GAS FLOW REGULATOR Albert E. Jur's,Piedmont, Calif. Application February 17, 1936, Serial No. 64,362

8 Claims.

generally to apparatus for regulating the now of gases in response tovarying gas pressures. More specically it relates to apparatus forcontrolling liow of relatively large volumes of gas, with a high degreeof sensitivity and accuracy with respect to the pressure variationsemployed for itsv operation. Such regulators have many usefulapplications,

This invention relates including systems for controlling the 'pumping ofgases or vapors from closed storage tanks containing volatile petroleumliquids, as disclosed in PatentNo. 1,803,460.

It is an object of the invention to` provide a regulator of the abovecharacter which will dispense with the use of 'expensive mercury sealssurrounding the main valve operating member, and which will be capableof long useful service without deterioration with respect to sensitivityand accuracy.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a gas regulator whichcan be readily converted for' operation responsive to eithersub-atmospheric pressures, or pressures above atmospheric. In thisconnection the apparatus incorporates a simple change-over valve whichcan beset in either one of two positions for the type of operationdesired.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription in which the preferred embodiments of the invention havebeen set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a side elevational View, in cross-section, illustrating aregulator incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail cross-sectional view, taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view, showing a modification suitablefor regulation in accordance with pressures considerably higher thanpressures for which the apparatus of Fig. 1, can be utilized.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The apparatus as illustrated in the drawings consists of a valve chamberIE, having inlet and outlet openings VIl and I2. Within the valvechamber there is a balanced valve I3, the valve discs I4 and I5 of whichcooperate with the valve seats I6 and I1. Above the valve casing I3there is a container I9, which contains a quantity of liquid, such as asuitable oil, and which is closed by the cover 2 I. The valve casing isshown connected to the container I3 by means of an inter- J mediatecasingsection 22.

Disposed within the closed chamber afforded by container I9, there is abell 23, the lower peripheral edge portion of which is submersed in theliquid. This bell can be circular in contour, to conform to a circularcontour of the container the liquid, there is a hollow oat 211. By meansto be presently described, the float, together with the bell and thevalve member I3, are connected together to move in unison.

Extending upwardly from the bottom of the container I9, there is a pipe26, the lower end of which is in communication with the space 21afforded by the intermediate casing section 22. rI'he upper end of pipe23 is open, and terminates above the normal liquid level 28, but belowthe upper part of the bell 23. Extended upwardly through the pipe 26,there is a valve operating rod 29, the lower end of which is attached tothe stem 33 of the balanced valve I3, by coupling device 3l. Interposedbetween the operating rod 23 and the bell 23 there is a valve means 32which can be adjusted so that the upper end of pipe 26 is either placedin communication with the closed space 33 within the bell, or with theclosed space 34 surrounding the bell.

The representativeform of Valve means 32 i1- lustrated consists of twoparts 33 and 31, both of which are annular in contour. The part 31 isrotatable about the axis of operating rod 29, relative tc therpart 36.The valve part 36 is shown accommodated in an aperture providedcentrally vwithin bell 23, and its marginal edge is clamped to theadjacent edge of the bell in such a manner as to establish sealingengagement. The upper face of the part 33 is machined to form a flatvalve surface 33, which cooperates with a corresponding valve surface 39formed on the lower face of part 31. Rod 29 has a threaded engagementwith the lower part 33, and the upper part 31 can be clamped down toestablish tight sealing engagement between the valve surfaces 38 and 39,by means of a nut 4l. 'Ihe arrangement of ports provided for this valvecan be best understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 4, taken inconjunction with Fig. 1. Thus the lower valve part 36 is provided with aplurality of circumferentially spaced ports 52, which are in commuenication with the space immediately above the upper end of pipe 26.Additional spaced ports e3 are provided, which are in communication withthe space 33 within the bell 23. The lower face of the upper valve 31 isinterrupted by the radially extending grooves 44, and is alsoy providedwith the spaced ports 45. A pair of spaced lugs 46 and 41 project fromthe upper valve part 31, and are adapted to cooperate with a-fixed stopwhich can be formed by the upper end of screw 48. When the upper valvepart 31 is positioned as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, ports l2 registerwith ports 45, and thus communication is established through these portsbetween the upper end of pipe 26 and the closed chamber space 34. Whenthe upper valve part is turned to the alternative position illustratedin Fig. 4,

ports 42 and 43 are placed in communication through the groove 44, andtherefore the upper end of pipe 23 is placed in communication with thespace 33, to the exclusion of space 34.

The oat 24 has a central opening to accommodate pipe 26. In order toconnect this float to the bell 23, it is secured to a tube I, which hasample clearance about pipe 26. The upper end of tube 5I is secured tothe lower valve part 3B, as by means of a threaded connection to theVannular portion 52.

The source of varying gas pressure, by means of which it is desired tocontrol operation of the regulator, can be conveniently connected to thespace 27, by pipe 53. Preferably some form of packing is provided aboutstem 30, to minimize leakage from the valve casing into space 21. 'Ihepacking utilized for this purpose should offer a minimum of friction tovertical movements of the valve stem, and need not afford a perfectseal. To serve this purpose a washer 54 has been shown surrounding thestem 30, and this washer may be of suitable material such as leather.

Assuming that sub-atmospheric pressures are being utilized to controloperation, the space 33 within the bell is connected to the atmosphere.When regulation is being eiected by the use of pressures aboveatmospheric, such pressures are applied to space 33, while space 34 isvented to the atmosphere. For the rst mentioned condition, the space 33in Fig. 1 is shown being vented to the atmosphere through the pipe 56and the external strainer l5'I. When converting the apparatus foroperation responsive to pressures above atmospheric, strainer 5l isremoved and attached in place of the plug 58, while this plug takes theplace of the strainer, to seal space 33.

A gravity bias is provided, tending to urge the balanced valve member I3towards closed position, in order to secure operation at certainpredetermined pressure values. To provide such a'bias, weights 5I and 62are shown carried upon the nut 4I, and are held in place by the wing nut63. Supplemental weights 64 can be conveniently carried upon the coverZI, and can be used to replace or supplement the weights 5I and 62, tosecure a desired setting.

Operation of the apparatus described above can be reviewed as follows:Assuming that it is desired to effect an automatic closing of thebalanced valve member VI3 when the gas pressure to which pipe 53 isconnected, drops below a predetermined sub-atmospheric value, valve 32is set as illustrated in Fig. 1, so that suction is transmitted throughpipe 26, to the chamber space is vented to the atmosphere and 34,presses upwardly upon bell 23, to maintain the balance valve i3 open.When the suction applied to pipe 53 decreases to or slightly below thevalue selected for operation, the difaccordance with mospheric, valvemember 32 can be set as illustrated in Fig. 3, with the space34-surrounding the bell vented to the atmosphere, and with space 33Yplaced in communication with the pipe 26.

As long as the pressure applied to pipe 53 is above the value selectedfor operation, the balance valve I3 is held in open position, due to theupward pressure applied to the bell 23. When the pressure applied topipe 53 falls to or slightly below the pressure selected for operation,the pressure applied to space 33 is no longer sufcient to hold the bell23 elevated, and thus the Valve moves to closed position.

The oat 24 makes for increased sensitivity, in balancing the weight ofthe moving parts. For a reasonable range of control pressures for whichapparatus is designed, the sensitivity thus gained characterizes theapparatus for operation both in response to pressures below and aboveatmospheric. Placing the liquid container I9 together with the bell 23and iloat 24, above the valve casing I 0, protects these parts againstliquid components of gas being handled, and makes it possible to utilizea simple type of packing around the valve stem 30, in place of a moreelaborate and expensive mercury seal. A slight amount of leakage mayoccur about the valve stem 30 to or from the space 37, but such leakagewill cause no diiicult'y, since it results in no appreciable error.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modification for use where it is desired to effectoperation responsive to pressure considerably higher than pressuressuitable for the apparatus of Fig. 1. In this case an annular trough 86is provided, which accommodates the lower peripheral edge of the bell.This trough is suitably carried by the side walls of the container I9,as for example by having it attached to an annular ring'l, which in turnrests upon the Vlugs 68. A quantity of mercury 59 is carried withintrough 66, to immerse the lower edge of the bell. The inner leg of themercury seal soestablished is protected by the oil or like liquid Withinthe container I9. The outer leg of the mercury seal can Vbe, protectedby a quantity of the same oil, or by a small quantity of glycerine. Withthe arrangement described considerably higher pressures can be impressedwithin the space 33, without disrupting the seal between the bell andthe liquid. In this modification the oil or like liquid in-container I9still establishes a seal between the trough 66 and the side walls of thecontainer I9, thus making it unnecessary to establish a gas tightmechanical connection between these parts.

I'claim:

l. In a regulator of the Vcharacter described, a valve casing havingiluid inlet and outlet openings, a iiow control valve within the casingmovable between open and closed positions, a closed liquid containingchamber above the valve casdepending peripheral the liquid, a floatimmersed in the liquid below said bell, a vertically extending rodconnecting the valve to the bell, a pipe extending upwardly from thebottom of the chamber and surrounding said rod, the upper end of thepipe terminating above the level of liquid in the chamber, a tubesurrounding said pipe and connected to the float at a point below theliquid level and to the bell at a point above the liquid level, wherebya liquid seal is formed between said tube and said pipe, and means forestablishing communication between Vsaid pipe and one side of said bell.

2. In a regulator of the character described, a Valve casing havingfluid inletand outlet openings, a flow control valve within the casingmovable between open and closed positions, a closed liquid containingchamber above the valve casing, a bell within said chamber and havingits depending peripheral edge portion immersed in the liquid, afloatimmersed in the liquid below said bell, means serving to connectthe flow control valve, the bell, and the float to move in unison, andmeans including an adjustable valve movable together with the ow controlvalve, the bell and the float, and serving to establish communicationbetween a source of variable gas pressure, and either side of said bell.

3. In a regulator of the character described, a valve casing havingfluid inlet and outlet openings, a flow control valve within the casingmovable in a vertical direction between open and closed positions, aclosed liquid containing chamber, a bell within said chamber having itsdepending peripheral edge portion immersed in the liquid, means servingto connect together the flow control valve and the bell, whereby theyare caused to move in unison, and means for applying a source of varyinggas pressures on either side of said bell, said last means including anadjustable valve mounted upon said bell.

4. In a regulator of the character described, a valve casing havingfluid inlet and outlet openings, a balanced flow control within thecasing and movable in a vertical direction between open and closedpositions, a closed liquid containing chamber disposed above the valvecasing, a bell within said chamber and having its depending peripheraledge portion immersed in the liquid, a float immersed in the liquidbelow said bell, means serving to connect together the flow controlmember, the bell and the float to cause the same to move in unison in avertical direction, and means for connecting either side of said bell toa source of gas of varying pressures, said last means including anadjustable valve mounted upon said bell.

5. In a regulator of the character described, a valve casing havingfluid inlet and outlet openings, a balanced flow control valve withinthe casing and movable between open and closed positions, a closedliquid containing chamber disposed above the valve casing, a bellmounted within said chamber and having its depending peripheral edgeportion immersed in the liquid, a float immersed in the liq d below saidbell, a tube connected to the float and extending upwardly to a pointabove the liquid level, a pipe extending within said tube and having itslower end communicating through the bottom of the chamber and having itsupper open end terminating ata point above the liquid level, arodextending Athrough said pipe and having its lower end connected to saidflow control valve, and valve means carried by said bell serving toconnect the bell to the rod and also serving to connect the bell and therod to the upper end of said tube, said valve means being adjustable toestablish communication between said pipe and the space within the bell,or between said pipe and the space surrounding the bell.

6. In a regulator of the character described, a valve casing havingfluid inlet and outlet openings, a balanced flow control valve withinthe casing movable between open and closed positions, a closed liquidcontaining chamber disposed above the valve casing, a bell within saidchamber and having its depending peripheral edge portions immersed inthe liquid, an opening in the bell located centrally of its upper wall,a

valve part occupying said opening and secured to the upper wall of thebell, a second valve part superposed over the rst valve part androtatable with respect to the same, a vertically extending pipe havingits lower end communicating through the bottom of the chamber and havingits upper end open and terminating above the level of liquid in thechamber, a tube surrounding said pipe and having its upper end securedto said first-mentioned valve part, said tube depending into the liquidwithin said chamber to establish a liquid seal, a rod extending throughsaid pipe, the lower end of said rod being connected to said flowcontrol valve and the upper end of the rod being connected to one ofsaid valve parts, said valve parts being ported whereby for one positionof the rotatable valve part communication is established between thespace within the bell and said pipe, and whereby for the other positionof said rotatable valve part communication is established between thespace surrounding said bell and said pipe.

7. In a regulator of the character described, a valve casing havin-gfluid inlet and outlet openings, a balanced flow control valve withinthe casing movable between open and closed positions, a closed liquidcontaining chamber above the valve casing, a casing section interposedbetween the valve casing and the chamber and adapted to be connected toa source of varying gas pressures, a bell within the chamber and havingits depending peripheral edge portion immersed in the liquid, a oatimmersed in the liquid below said bell, a pipe disposed within saidchamber and having its lower end communicating with the interior of saidintermediate section through the bottom chamber wall, the upper end ofsaid pipe being open and terminating above said liquid level, a rodextending upwardly through said pipe and having its lower end connectedto said valve member, a tube surrounding said pipe and connected to saidfloat, a valve part attached to the upper end of said tube and to theupper wall of said bell, said valve part.

being also attached to said rod whereby the bell, the oat and the rodare caused to move in a vertical direction in unison, a rotatable valvepart positioned upon said first-mentioned valve part, both said valveparts being ported whereby for one position of said rotatable valve partcommunication is established between said pipe and the interior of thebell, and for another position of said rotatable valve partcommunication is established between said pipe and the space surroundingthe bell, to| the exclusion of the interior of the bell.

8. In a regulator of the character described, a valve casing havingfluid inlet and outlet openings, a flow control valve within the casingmovable in a vertical direction between open and closed positions, abell having a depending peripheral edge portion, means forming a liquidseal with the depending peripheral edge portion of the bell and servingto form closed chambers on both sides of the bell, means serving toconnect together the flow control valve and the bell, whereby they arecaused to move in unison, and means for applying a source of varying gaspressures on either side of the bell, said last means including anadjustable valve mounted upon said bell.

ALBERT E. JURS.

